Flagler County Schools rezoning plan proposed for 2022-23 school year

Palm Coast Observer
Schools

The last time Flagler Schools underwent rezoning was 15 years ago when Rymfire Elementary School opened its doors.

But next school year will be the first time when every campus in the school district will be affected by a rezoning plan, said Jason Wheeler, the district’s community information specialist.

The rezoning plan is necessary due to current and projected growth in the county, district planning coordinator Patty Bott told the School Board at an information workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 17. Members of the rezoning committee presented boundary maps for a preliminary plan.

On April 20 the board approved moving sixth graders back into middle schools. The shift to K-5 elementary schools will level out enrollment, but current school boundaries are insufficient for the county’s growth, Bott said.

The proposed rezoning maps can be viewed on the Flagler Schools website by clicking a new District Rezoning button on the home page. The District Rezoning information can also be accessed on the School Board page on the website.

Listening forums on the rezoning plan will be held on Aug. 25 at Buddy Taylor Middle School and on Aug. 26 at Indian Trails Middle School. Both forums are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

After the forums, the district’s rezoning committee will present community concerns and additional findings at the next two School Board information workshops on Oct. 19 and Nov. 16.

The committee’s final plan is scheduled to be submitted on Dec. 21 to the School Board with the new school zones to be implemented at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year in August.

The proposed boundaries take several factors into consideration including the county’s main arteries, waterways, bus routing and student ride times, neighborhood outlines and student and county demographics, Bott said.

School Board member Jill Woolbright said she hoped the new plan would make the schools more equitable for low socioeconomic students on the westside of the county.

In addition to rezoning information and interactive maps, the new District Rezoning section on the Flagler Schools’ website allows residents to provide feedback and ask questions on a “Let’s Talk” page.